Interesting facts about Canada's PMs

Macdonald begins 48 years in office

1844 — John A. Macdonald is elected to the Legislative Assembly of the United Province of Canada for the first time, representing Kingston. As a local alderman, he handily defeats his opponent, Anthony Manahan, 275 votes to 42.

One local voter likely not supporting him is recent Scottish immigrant Alexander Mackenzie, a stone mason and Reformer who goes on to wrest the Canadian Prime Minister office away from Macdonald in the 1870s.